Updated 14 December 2025 In 1967, a 24-year-old student from Cambridge University, Jocelyn Bell, was doing the research for her PhD. She was using a radio telescope to study radio waves emitted from compact astronomical objects known as quasars, and when she analysed the data she had collected, she noticed a signal which appeared to… Continue reading The discovery of pulsars 1967
Author: Steve Hurley
Hi I am Steve Hurley. Although I work in the IT industry. I studied for a PhD in astronomy in the 1980s. My real passion is explaining scientific concepts to a non-scientific audience. My blog (explainingscience.org) covers various scientific topics, but primarily astronomy. It is written in a style that it is easily understandable to the non scientist.
Publications and videos
For links to my books and videos please visit www.explainingscience.org
Solar eclipse 21 August 2017 – America on the move
The 2017 total solar eclipse attracted massive attention, with approximately 200 million Americans within driving distance of its path. An estimated 7 million travelers joined 12 million others witnessing the eclipse. This event marked one of the largest human migrations for a natural phenomenon, enhanced by unprecedented social media coverage.
Is 196 a Lychrel Number?
Discusses the intriguing mathematical question of whether 196 is a Lychrel number, defined as a number that never results in a palindrome through repeated "reverse and add" processes. Despite extensive computational attempts, no palindrome has been found for 196, making it a leading candidate for a Lychrel number.
12-13 August 2017 – the Perseids
In this post originally published in 2017 I talk about the Perseids meteor shower. Occurring annually from late July to mid-August, it offers an alternative for those who were unable to see the August 2017 eclipse. Best observed just before dawn in dark areas, the meteor shower is caused by the Earth passing through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Clear skies enhance the viewing experiences!
Solar Eclipse 21 August 2017
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse captivated millions across a narrow path in the US, the first since 1979. Although eclipses occur every 18 months globally, total eclipses are rare for any specific location. Factors like the Moon's orbit affect visibility and duration.
